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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU? Rubbish Parent?

103 replies

MrsR85 · 13/07/2023 20:48

Little bit of a back story. Been married for 8 years, together for over 10 I have a child 14 year old teenager from a previous relationship.

Husband is step parent, he does have a child who is now 18 and has never lived with us although he has stayed at weekends etc.

My 14 year old has had a rocky year last year, had to move schools etc, she had some trouble with some girls in her friend group, ended up isolating her and she ended up were she was really unhappy and didn’t want to go to school so moved her. She has come a long way since, and just had parents evening and she is excelling.

Husband and Daughter have always bickered with each other. My husband is very strict were-as I understand what it’s like to be a teenage girl, it’s hard!

Her room is untidy a lot of the time although I do tell her to tidy it and she reluctantly does. I tell my Husband not to go into her room as to be honest, if he does, it always ends up in a shi&tstorm as he gets so angry at the state of it. His response is, if she’s not in the house and he wants to go in her room, he will do as he pays the bills, this is his house ( I work and pay bills too).

Anyway, it all came to a head last night after work. We went into the house and he shouted her straight away and asked for her phone. Her response was why why why? He said until you have tidied your room. Her response was, I will tidy it but you haven’t asked me but I will do, she refused to hand her phone over to him.

This then resulted in him screaming and shouting at her to give him her phone, I intervened.

Afterwards, he told me when we went downstairs was when he gets her phone he will smash it, because he pays for it, he doesn’t, it comes out of our joint account.

My daughter came downstairs and he was saying, in front of her, that she doesn’t listen to him because he’s not her Dad, that she’s disrespectful, she doesn’t do as she is told and told me he can no longer cope and that’s it.

He then proceeded to say that it was parenting on my behalf and I don’t discipline her and every time he says something to her, I stick up for her. It isn’t just with her, because when his son (my stepson) used to come I also used to stick up for him aswell as I felt he goes overboard all the time with the kids.

He also stated to me “good luck in finding someone else putting up with her”

I’m not saying she’s an angel, she is a moody teenager with hormones but he is making out like she’s the worse child ever.

She does see her biological father but not often and I don’t really receive any maintenance and he gets angry at that too.

He said I’m pathetic for not seeing it and not disciplining her properly.

He said good parenting! I feel like the worlds worst Mum. I feel awful he said everything to her like that, shes only 14.

Apologies for the long post, I just feel I have nowhere to turn.

OP posts:
Unexpectedlysinglemum · 13/07/2023 21:49

PP concentrating on daughters behaviour - I see it as a trauma response and her trying to survive

LePetitChat · 13/07/2023 21:57

He sounds awful. On many levels.

the phone, the trainers… threatening to smash her stuff is very immature and I’d call it abusive. Confiscate it for a bit, sure. Smash it? No. That screams of someone who’s lost control.

my oldest three are teenage girls and they live in a pit most of the time. Sometimes I get in there with a pitchfork and biohazard head but for the same reason I let them decorate how they like, I leave them to it because it is their space, not mine. They clean it up and mess it up again regularly but is their space and everyone needs their own space. The relationship will never improve if he won’t leave her alone.

LePetitChat · 13/07/2023 21:58

Biohazard gear not head 🤦‍♀️

MrsR85 · 13/07/2023 21:59

Mela155 · 13/07/2023 21:38

I get the impression that there is more to this and it would be interesting to hear his side.

I get this impression because you started by talking about her and her previous friendship group which is irrelevant to her having a tidy room. It seems as though you feel sorry for her or guilty about something. It's obviously fine to feel sorry for your daughter but allowing poor behaviour to compensate isn't the way forward.

She got bullied last year and had an extremely hard time, were we had to move her schools, that was my point that from were she was 12 months ago, she has come on leaps and bounds at school.

Not there's more to this. I was just making a point!!

OP posts:
lauraloulou1 · 13/07/2023 22:01

This is really sad to read. He shouldn't be in her room at all - it's totally inappropriate and he needs boundaries. You need to enforce them! Your daughter is learning some really bad lessons from you, as much as you are trying your best, this man is dominating you and you are not an equal in your own home. So then what is she as your daughter? Him shouting at her in front of her friends is really discipable- was he the reason she was bullied at the other school? Had other friends seen this? Then to reiterate what others were saying re her vulnerability to bad, sad and mad men- can you kick your one out? Can you leave even temporarily? It doesn't seem like he is listening? You know he is wrong here. You know he is bullying her - and it really seems like he is bullying you too.

GardeningIdiot · 13/07/2023 22:03

Get your daughter away from the abusive man. If you allow her to be subject to this behaviour then, yes, I would say your parenting is lacking.

You're worrying over whether anyone else will want you, while your DD is being bullied by your husband?? FFS.

MrsR85 · 13/07/2023 22:07

GardeningIdiot · 13/07/2023 22:03

Get your daughter away from the abusive man. If you allow her to be subject to this behaviour then, yes, I would say your parenting is lacking.

You're worrying over whether anyone else will want you, while your DD is being bullied by your husband?? FFS.

I'm not worried no one else will want me. I dont want anyone.
He said to me good luck trying to find someone to put up with her. My point was she was being made out to be the worst behaved child in the world when she isn't

OP posts:
hummingbirdsinmygarden · 13/07/2023 22:08

He doesn't like or care about your DD. She is 14. It's a difficult age. It must be a horrible atmosphere to live in, for both her and you. What message do you think she is currently receiving from her step-dad about her value or about how men treat women? By all means, have some rules in place but they need to be enforced calmly and consistently. As an aside, for some kids, tidying a room can be very overwhelming if it's got in a bit of a state and she may feel stressed by it and not know where to start. It's okay to do it together! Also, the fact he thinks he can go into her room whenever he likes, is really overstepping her boundaries. I'm honestly wondering why you've stayed for 10 years with a man like this.

MrsR85 · 13/07/2023 22:09

lauraloulou1 · 13/07/2023 22:01

This is really sad to read. He shouldn't be in her room at all - it's totally inappropriate and he needs boundaries. You need to enforce them! Your daughter is learning some really bad lessons from you, as much as you are trying your best, this man is dominating you and you are not an equal in your own home. So then what is she as your daughter? Him shouting at her in front of her friends is really discipable- was he the reason she was bullied at the other school? Had other friends seen this? Then to reiterate what others were saying re her vulnerability to bad, sad and mad men- can you kick your one out? Can you leave even temporarily? It doesn't seem like he is listening? You know he is wrong here. You know he is bullying her - and it really seems like he is bullying you too.

I've tried! Ive told him over and over again dont go into her room whether she is in the house or not.

His response was I will go in her room when she isn't in if I want because I pay the bills!!!

My question back was always why? But why do you want to go in? I know why, it's to see if her room is messy and if it is, he can have a go at her for it.

OP posts:
Heyheyitsanotherday · 13/07/2023 22:12

What a twat. He sounds vile. As someone who also had an awful step dad I would say support your daughter. Leave him. He’s controlling and mean and won’t change. Your poor dd.

YoSof · 13/07/2023 22:13

Your poor daughter. Her home should be a place of safety, her sanctuary and she is waking on egg shells because of him. It is abusive, bullying behaviour and will have severe consequences on your daughters mental health.

This is not ok, and I would be telling him very calmly that if he doesn’t sort his shit out immediately you will divorce him. And mean it.

TheShellBeach · 13/07/2023 22:18

Your daughter's room should be her safe space. Your husband has no right to go into her room. Saying that he can do what he likes because he pays the bills is remarkably immature of him.

I would be making plans to leave him.

SweetAsIcedChocolate · 13/07/2023 22:20

Bb234 · 13/07/2023 20:53

He’s verbally abusive towards your daughter I grew up with a step father figure like this, it led me to have the worst example of what a relationship was- I’m now in therapy to deal with the childhood trauma.
he said similar things to your daughter that mine said to me.
you really should have a think if you should stay with this person because he won’t ever change and all he’s doing is traumatising your girl.

I agree.
I also had someone like this come into our lives, just for 8 years.
It has affected me massively. I can still hear him saying how worthless I was and how I wouldn’t amount to anything, and I haven’t even seen him for years.

42wordsfordrizzle · 13/07/2023 22:23

You have to put your daughter first - he's horrible to her, and sounds pretty horrible to you. He's an abusive angry bully.

You need to show her she matters to you, and she doesn't seem to matter to her bio or stepfather, so you need to put her wellbeing first, and get out of this shitty relationship.

Nn9011 · 13/07/2023 22:24

I'm very sorry but it sounds like you husband is a man who needs to control everything and everyone.
I would really recommend you take a step back and examine not just these moments but the household and your relationship.
If your daughter has ADHD it's a disability, as a 30 year old who still struggles to the day to keep a tidy house because of ADHD I can promise you that him acting like this will only reinforce a negative self image and potentially cause long term problems for your daughter.
You mentioned that you feel you can't spend money from the joint account - have you heard of financial control? It sounds like although technically you have access you don't feel you can spend from the account.
The way your husband is reacting, threatening to smash her phone is abusive. I really wish the best for you because this doesn't sound like a healthy relationship.

Thepossibility · 13/07/2023 22:27

He goes into her room because he wants a reason to yell at her.
If the room was tidy it would be something else. He'd find something.
My parents were like this. I never let myself like anything because I knew it would be used against me and ultimately taken away.
He's secretly enjoying these power trips and putting her in her place.
You're chosen a bully for her stepfather.
I've been NC with my parents for years, OP. Just some food for thought. They have never even met my children.

bakebeans · 13/07/2023 22:28

I have a daughter, extremely untidy room. She's now 18. I shut the door. Started doing this once she became 13 years. Her space. If people call, her problem not his. Just shut the door.

I draw the line at cups and plates and she was stopped at taking them to her room
he shouldn't be saying things like that to you in front of her.

WTFAreYouForReal · 13/07/2023 22:30

He continues to go in, now when she isn't there, proceeds to get angry about it and his response is I pay for a roof over her head, if I want to go in, I will do.

I wouldn't have him anywhere near a dd of mine.

He's abusive and you and your dd need to leave.

LakeTiticaca · 13/07/2023 22:34

Get her a lock for her bedroom.. he's no right to go in there. While you're at it get locksmith to change your locks and stick his belongings outside. He's a gold plated twat and you shouldn't have to put up with that crap

Sorchamarie · 13/07/2023 22:35

I voted you are being unreasonable as you need to get this angry, abusive (a grown man screaming at a girl is horribly intimidating and nasty) away from your poor daughter. Please don't let this continue so she thinks that this kind of behaviour is ok. You'll feel horrendous is she ends up in a relationship with someone who treats her like this, because she has learnt this is normal.

ThePM · 13/07/2023 22:40

MrsR85 · 13/07/2023 21:09

Oh wow really.

I need to do something asap. This isn't good. Also telling me no one else will want me has made me feel really low. Not that I want anyone else.

Why would that make you feel low? It’s just standard abuser script.

who the hell would want him, that can’t cope with females who won’t jump to attention.

SleepPrettyDarling · 13/07/2023 22:44

MrsR85 · 13/07/2023 21:04

She's had friends round before now and he's gone in her bedroom moaning and shouting in front of her friends. I told him to speak to her when she's on her own. She said Mum it's just embarrassing.

This is dreadful behaviour on his part. How dare he? Please don’t let him do this.

SleepPrettyDarling · 13/07/2023 22:46

MrsR85 · 13/07/2023 21:17

We bought her some trainers she wanted for ages as she is doing really well at school after the awful year she had last year.

She said something not bad, but just something he didn't like and he responded by saying I'll take them trainers off you!

She actually said Mum, you've bought me them and now it's like he has leverage over me threatening to take my things back.

He is seeking to confiscate her SHOES?! 😱

orangeleavesinautumn · 13/07/2023 22:51

whose house is it? If it is yours he needs to leave, and if it is his, you and your daughter need to leave - this cant go on, him saying he has a right to treat her like dirt because he is paying for the roof over her head. Whose roof is it?

AuntMarch · 13/07/2023 22:57

My most important criteria for if I ever settle down with someone is that they are good with my son and that he (son) would be as happy to welcome them into our family as I am.

Throw in the financial control - and holding that over your head as to why he gets to treat her like that..

What redeeming qualities does this man have, and what the hell are you doing with him anyway?

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